Snare-tensioning device for drums



R. C. DNLY. SNARE TENSIONING DEVICE FOR DRUMS.

Patented Sept. 28

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. I 9 I 9.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

ROBERT C. DANLY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LUDWIG & LUDWIG, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CQRPORATIGN OF ILLINOIS.

SNARE-TENSIONING DEVICE FOR DRUMS.

Application led lfay 28, 1919.

T o @ZZ whom t may concer Be it known that I, ROBERT C. DANLY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snare-Tensioning Devices for Drums; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionl of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings` and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates more specifically to an improved type of snare tensioning device tor side or snare drums, said device adapted to be set and held in an adjusted position, so that the snare strings may be simultaneously moved into an operative or an inoperative position by means ot a lever actuated cam mechanism.

It is an obj ect of this invention to provide a means whereby the snare strings of a drum may be instantaneously thrown into a set or release position.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a cam operated snare tensioning device for drums.

A further object of the invention is the construction of a drum attachment capable of practically instantaneously converting a side drum into a snare drum, and vice versa.

It is also an object ot this invention to equip a drum with a mechanism adapted to adjust the snare strings of the drum and also affording a ready means permittingr the adjusted snare strings to be moved into a release position.

It isV furthermore an object of the invention to provide a tensioning mechanism for the snare strings of a drum, said mechanism having means Jfor holding the adjusting screw in an adjusted position against accidental release and also being provided with a lever actuated cam for the purpose of moving the adjusted snare strings into a release or operative position.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a drum snare string 'tensioning device of a simple and effective construction adapted to permit the adjusted snare strings to be moved into a release or active position with respect to the .snare-head .of the drum,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

Serial No. 300,265.

by simply actuating a slidably mounted cam control mechanism.

Cther and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the drawings and specification.

rhe invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more `fully described. i

@n the drawings Iigure l is a side elevation of a drum equipped with a snare tensioning device einbodying the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the tensioning device associated with a fragmentary portion of the drum, and showing the operation thereof in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 8-3, of Fig. 2.

w Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, of .Figa 2, showing parts in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the cam conl trol mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail section showing the guide roller for the cam mechanism. j

F ig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the snare string adjusting screw mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a spring locking washer forming a part of the adjusting screw mechanism.

shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral l, indicates a drum cylinder made of wood or metal and hav ing stretched across one end thereof a batterhead 2, and across the other end a snare-head Drum hoops 4 and 5, are engaged around the cylinder to hold the drum heads 2 and 3, in position. A plurality of adjustable clamping members 6, engage the drum hoops 4 and 5, for holding the material forming the drum heads stretched in position.

Mounted on one side of the drum cyliiider in any suitable manner is a supporting bracket or plate (not shown) to which is secured one end of a plurality of snare strings T, which extend downwardly in parallel relation to one another and are thendirected across the outer or bottom surface-of the snare-head 3, and up along the opposite side of the drum cylinder as shown in Figs. l and 2. The other ends of the snare strings 7, are secured to an apertured plate or bar 8, forming a part of a snare tensioning device Ythe supporting bracket 9, is an outwardly and inwardly directed guide channel 13, affording a guide groove, as shown in Fig. 3.

The two guide channels 13, have the longitui dinal margins thereof spaced apartJ to provide an opening or slot 14.

Pivotally mounted on the inner face of the supporting bracket plate 11, by means of a pivot pin `15, is a cam 16, provided with a curved slot 17, and having integrally formed thereon an arm or lever 18, which projects outwardly through one of the open sides of' the supportingA bracket 9.v Thel cam lever 18, has a knob ory handle 19, secured near the outer end thereof to facilitate operation of the cam. Projecting through the curved cam slot 17, is the reduced inner end of a roller 20, the enlarged outerr end of which is positioned in the guide slotflO, of the supporting bracket 9. The roller 20, is rotatably mounted on a Vstud or pin 21, which projects through the slot 10, and has the outer end thereof secured to a plate 22, which is slidably mounted in front of the plate 11, and within the Vgrooves of the channel guides 13.Y lntegrally formed at right angles to the middle portion of the upper end of the plate 22, is an outwardly directed ilange, lug or projection of a. width less than that of the slot 14.

Projecting upwardly through an opening in the flange 23, is an adjusting-screw 24, having a knurled head 25, secured on the upper end thereof. The lower portion of the adjusting screw 24, is threaded through a ball -orlmob 26, which isprovided with an integral extension 27, which projects through vthe opening,14, and has the end thereof rigidly secured to a slidable adjusting or tensioning plate 28. rlhe tensioning plate 28, is slidably mounted vin the grooves Voftherchannel'guides 13, to the front of the plate 22. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the adjustable snare string Vbar 8, is integrally formed fat right angles to the lower' end of the tensioning plate 28. The snare strings 7, may Vbe looped through the apertures in the bar l8. or may be individually knotted if pre-@erred to hold thestriugs in place. Rig- 'iidl'y secured (ar-integrally formed near the upper vvpoI-t'ion'of` the screw 24, between the 29, having seated thereon below the, flange a Sprite teller 30; Y The operation is as follows: TWith the vsnare strings 7, disposed across Athe snare-head 3, and attached to the adjustable bar 8,'the controlling cam 16, is moved or snare position shown in Fig. 2. To adby means of the lever 18, into the full line just the snare strings 7, the screwl 24, is`

2 9, and vacts to hold the adjusting screwV locked in an adjusted position against-aceidental jarring loose.

To remove the snare eiiect, it is only necessary to swing the cam Y16, by means of the lever 1S, into the release position Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This operationV causes the roller to rotate and move ,downwardly in the slot 10, since thereducedend ofthe roller is engaged in the curved slot 17. Downward movement of therollel acts to slide the plate 22, downwardly'and also the adjusting plate 28, which is locked n with the flange ,23, byV means of the ball 26., Y

Vand the adjusting screw mechanism. `The string bar 8, 1s thus moved downwardly into release position, Ythereby simultaneously relaning the tension on the* snare strings 7. By throwing the cam lever upwardly the drum is almost instantaneously. Vconverted into a snare drum, with the strings properly tensioned to produce the vdesired sounds when the drum batter-head is beaten er` played; 7 Y

.The adjusting screw mechanism is very easily set as already described, and-is locked in an adjusted vposition by the locking washer 30. The leverV handle 19, affords a convenient means for operating thecontrolling cam 16, toV sinfmltaneouslyY move the strings 7 into a snare or into arelease position, without any danger of the-strings becoming tangled, as is often the case when the snare stringsor drums arey being adjusted by the methods at present in use.

l am aware that numerous details of Vcon- Y Vstructiony maybe 'varied through a wide Y range without departing from the principles of my invention and I there-foredo not purv pose limitingthe patent V'granted :otherwise than necessitated bythe priorlart. l claim as my invention:V 1. A snare tensioning device comprising a slotted support, a slotted. cam vmechanism pivotally mounted thereon, a slidable member mounted on said support, a roller mounted thereon and engaged in the slots in said support and in said cam mechanism, a string tensioning member slidably mounted on said support, an adjusting screw mounted on said slidable member and connected with said string tensioning member, said adjusting screw adapted to be actuated to tension snare strings connected with the string tensioning member, and locking means on said adjusting screw for holding the same in an adjusted position, said cam mechanism adapted to be operated to cause simultaneous movement of the slidable member, the adjusting screw and the string tensioning member to move the snare strings from an adjusted tensioned snare position into a release position.

2. A tensioning and control device for snare drums comprising a support, a slidable snare supporting plate, a tensioning screw connected to said plate, a second slidable plate cooperating with said screw and control mechanism connecting said second plate to said support.

3. In a snare tensioning device, a slidable snare supporting member, an adjusting member operatively connected thereto, a support, and means slidably and pivotally cooperating with said support to control said snare supporting member.

4. In a snare adjusting and controlling device, a pair of relatively slidable plates, an adjusting screw operatively connected with one of said plates and cooperating with the other, a support, and means pivoted to said support for controlling said slidable plates.

5. A snare adjusting mechanism, a support, and means pivotally and slidably connected to said support for varying the position of said mechanism.

6. A snare adjusting mechanism comprising a plurality of relatively movable members, means for moving one of said members relative to the other, a support, and a device pivotally and slidably connected to said support and cooperating with said mechanism for controlling the position of said mechanism.

'7. In a snare adjusting and controlling device, a slidable snare supporting member, an adjusting device operatively connected thereto, a support, and means cooperating with said device and support for controlling the adjusted device, said means including a cam member pivoted to said support and a slidable member operated by said cam member.

8. In a snare adjusting tensioning device, a support having a guide slot, a slidable snare supporting plate, an adjusting screw connected to said plate, a cam member having a slot, pivoted to said support, and a slidable member cooperating with said screw and having a projection extending through said slots for actuation by the cam member.

9. In a snare adjusting and tensioning device, a pair of relatively slidable members, an adjusting device operatively associated therewith, a support, a cam member pivoted to said support, and operatively connected to said slidable members.

l0. In a snare adjusting and tensioning device, a pair of slidable plates, an adjusting device operatively associated therewith, a support having a guide slot, a lever having a cam slot pivoted to said support, and a member connected to one of said slidable plates and extending through said slots.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT C. DANLY.

Witnesses:

FRED E. PAEsLnR, CHARLES W. HILLS, Jr. 

